Robert Roberson, 58, awaits execution for his 2002 daughter's death, claiming innocence and citing flawed shaken baby syndrome science.

Robert Roberson, 58, faces execution on October 16, 2025, for his daughter Nikki Curtis’s 2002 death, which prosecutors say resulted from shaken baby syndrome. Roberson, who was diagnosed with autism in 2018, maintains his innocence, claiming she died from pneumonia and that his autistic behaviors were misinterpreted as guilt. His legal team and supporters, including lawmakers, author John Grisham, and former detective Brian Wharton, argue the conviction relies on outdated science. A last-minute stay in 2024 halted his execution, and now they seek another reprieve through courts and Governor Greg Abbott amid national scrutiny over shaken baby syndrome convictions.